Hydraulic steering gear



Sept 2, 1947- E. H. LANGLEY 2,426,938

HYDRAULIC STEERING GEAR mednv. 2s. 1945 V2 s1w@'=:,'--, 11eet 1 RESERVOIRl In alentar Sept. 2, 1947. E. H. LANGLEY HYDRAULIC STEERING GEARl Filed Nov. 2s, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor Hwzad/ariwq/ey and WH V A Patented Sept. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oF Fics This invention relates to an improved hydraulic steering gear for motor vehicles wherein a power-operated pump is employed for creating hydraulic pressure to cause steering in a selected direction under the manual control of the operator.

The present invention contemplates a hydraulic steering gear of the aboveA kind in which spaced, single-acting fluid pressure motors are Amounted in alignment transversely of the vehicle and have their pistons connected by a common piston rod which is operatively connected to the front steering wheels of the vehicle.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of valve and operatingv means therefor, for controlling the flow of pressure fluid to and from the fluid pressure motors, whereby steering of the vehicle may be conveniently and effectively controlled by operation of the usual steering shaft of the steering column or post of the motor vehicle. p t

The present invention further resides in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a motor vehicle chassis equipped with a steering gear embodying the present invention,

Figure '2 is an enlarged view partly in rear elevation and partly in vertical section showing the duid pressure motors and the control valve,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a. view similar to Figure 3, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is av fragmentary enlarged plan view showing the connection between the piston rod of.

the uid pressure motors and the actuating lever which is connected to the front steering Wheel of the vehicle. y o y 'Referring in detail to the drawings, a conventional type of front axle assembly for tractors and other heavy vehicles is generally indicated at 5, such assembly being of the type wherein the front wheels 6 are turned, vin steering, about pivots located in the planes of said wheels. In

this type of construction, a horizontallylswinging actuating lever I is pivoted to the frame of the assembly 5, as at 8, and is operatively con- I cylinders I0 and Illa of two single-acting fluid pressure motors are rigidly mounted in `spaced relation and in alignment transversely 4of the vehicle rearwardly of the assembly 5. As shown in Figure 2, this maybe done by rigidly mounting the cylinders I0 and Illa on the chassis frame II of the vehicle so as to be suspended from said frame by suitable hangers or supports I2. Each uid pressure motor includes a piston I 3 reciprocable in the associated cylinder, and these pistons are connected by a common piston rod I 4 which is operatively connected intermediate thecylinders ID and Ia to the free rear end of lever I by a pin and slot connection I5, as shown in Figure 5.

The fluid pressure motors are oppositely acting and therefore are supplied with iluid under pressure at their outer ends through pipes I 6 and I6a.

Flow of the pressure uid to and from the' respective cylinders I0 and Illa is controlled by means of a valve V arranged intermediate the cylinders I0 and Illa. This valve includes a casing II having a rotatable valve member I8 therein, which valve member is provided with non-communicating upper and lower chambers I9 and 20. The pipes I 5 and I6a communicate with opposite sides of the casing I1 in the same plane as ports 2I provided in the wall of the chamber I9, and said pipes I6 and I6a have branches 22 and 22a which communicate with opposite sides of the casing I1 in the same plane as ports 23 provided in the wall of the chamber 20. The ports 2l and -23 are so arranged that when a port 2I is registered with pipe I6, the other port '2| is out of registry with pipe I6a and a port 23 is registered with the branch 22a of pipe I 6av whilethe other port 23 is out of registry with the branch 22 of pipe I6. The arrangement is further such that when a port 2| is registered with pipe IGa, the other port 2| is out of registry with pipe I6, and a port 23 is registered with branch 22 of .pipe I6 while the other port 23 is out of registry with the branch 22a of pipe I6a. An outlet pipe 24 constantly communicates with chamber 20 through the bottoms of the casing I'I' and valve member I8, while an inlet pipe 25 connected with the hubs of wheels 6 by links 9. The

arrangement is such that when the lever 'I is swung to the right, the wheels 6 are turned to steer the vehicle to the left, and vice versa.

In accordance with the present invention, the

stantly communicates with the chamber I9 throughl the tops of the casing I1 and valve me ber I8. It will thus be apparent that the valve member I8 may be turned to either supply fluid under pressure to the cylinder I0 and simultaneously exhaust the pressure'uid from the cylinder I 0a, or to supply iluid under pressure to the cylinder Illa and simultaneously lexhaust the pressure fluid from the cylinder I0. Actuation of the piston I3 of cylinder I0 will thus cause steering of the vehicle to the left, while actuation of the piston I3 of the cylinder Illa will cause steering of the vehicle to the right.

As shown in Figure 1, the outlet pipe 23 communicates with a reservoir 26 for the pressure fluid and is provided with a check valve 21 so as to prevent passage of the uid trom the reservoir tothe chamber 20. The inlet pipe 25 communicates with the outlet of a power-operated pump 28 whose inlet is connected by a pipe 28 with the reservoir 26. A by-pass connection 30 is provided between the pipe 25 and the reservoir 26 and has a pressure relief valve 3l interposed therein so that when the pressure in the pipe or line 25 reaches a predetermined point, the uid will be by-passed from the pump back to the reservoir to avoid generation of excess pressure in the pipe or line 25. Obviously, the pump 28 may be suitably driven from the engine of the vehicle and driving of said pump may be under the control of the operator of the vehicle, as is generally Well known in the art. f

The valve member I8 is operatively connected to the steering arm 32 which is usually connected by a drag link with the lever '1.` For this purpose, the valve member I8 is provided at the top with a substantially triangular, relatively short stem 33 which is received within a substantially V-shaped notch 34 provided in an edge and intermediate the ends of an operating rod 35 which is slidably mounted in guides 36 for longitudinal movement transversely of the vehicle. One end of the rod 35 is connected with the steering arm 32 by a link 3T, and it will thus be seen that when the rod 35 is shifted to the right, the valve member I8 is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures l, 3 and 4 so as to simultaneously supply pressure fluid to cylinder IIla and exhaust the same from the cylinder III. It will further be seen that when the rod 35 is moved to the left, the valve member I8 is reversely rotated for admitting the pressure uid to the cylinder -I and exhausting it from the cylinder Illa. The vehicle has the usual steering post or column 38 in which is journaled a steering shaft 39 which may carry the usual steering handle or wheel at its upper end and which is operatively geared at its lower end within a gear box 40 with the steering arm 32. As shown, the gearing in gear box 40 is of a character to effect movement of rod 35 to the right for a right turn an'd to the left for a left turn. y

In operation, the steering shaft 39 may be operated to completely close the valve V as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 when the Wheels 6 have been turned to the desired degree, thereby preventing further turning of the wheels and maintaining them in the position to which they have been turned. When the desired turning movement of the vehicle has been completed, the wheels 6 may be returned to normal position by actuation of the piston in the; proper cylinder,

whereupon the wheels 6 may be maintained in position to travel straight ahead by again closing the valve V. While the same has not been shown and as is old in the art, spring means may be utilized to normally yieldingly position the piston I3 in a position wherein the wheels 6 are turned for straight-ahead. travel, as illustrated in Figure 1.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as Well as the advantages ofthe present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. The apparatus is simple and compact in construction, easy to install, convenient to control, and eiiicient in operation. Minor changes may be made in the details illustrated and described, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a hydraulic steering gear for a motor I vehicle, wherein front steering and supporting wheels are mounted on a front axle assembly to turn about vertical axes, wherein an operating lever -is pivoted at its front end on a frame of the assembly for horizontal swinging movement, wherein a steering arm is actuated by a steering shaft, and wherein said lever is operatively connected intermediate its ends With the wheels by means of links, two single-acting fluid pressure motors rigidly mounted on the frame of the vehicle rearwardly of said assembly and disposed in alignment transversely of the vehicle, said motors including cylinders and pistons reciprocable in said cylinders' and connected by a common piston rod, means operatively connecting the rear end of said lever to said piston rod intermediate the cylinders, a valve for controlling the low of pressure fluid to and from the respective cylinders, said valve being mounted in a ilxed position between the cylinders and including a rotatable valve member, an actuating rod for said valve member mounted for longitudinal sliding movementabove the cylinders transversely of the vehicle] and means to connect an end of said actuating rod to the steering arm of the vehicle.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein said valve member has a triangular stem, said actuating rod having a notch in an edge thereof receiving said stem so that longitudinal movement of the rod will effect turning of the valve member.

ERVIN HOWARD LANGLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

